Honda Civic’s diesel variant could be re-introduced in a BS6 avatar later this year
Honda Car India has discontinued the diesel variants of the Civic sedan and CR-V 7-seater SUV alongside the Accord Hybrid. Meanwhile, Honda will be launching the updated BS6 avatars of its Jazz, WR-V and City models once the current state of affairs settles down. The company plans to launch the much-awaited 2020 Honda City this month but it remains to be known if COVID-19 would cause the event to be postponed. Honda had cancelled its official media drive that was supposed to happen last month.
Honda Car India has also teased the upcoming BS6 Jazz premium hatchback. The global market has already received its next-generation model but India would most likely have the present generation (in the 2020 facelift) for a few more years. The outgoing BS4 Honda Jazz is available in both petrol and diesel formats, with the latter being the more desirable choice. The 2020 Honda Jazz might not get a diesel powertrain right from the beginning but in due course.
Diesel Honda Civic, CRV Discontinued
Coming to the Honda Civic, the premium sedan was launched back in May 2019 at a starting price of Rs 17.70 lakh ex-showroom. The BS4-compliant 1.8-litre NA petrol mill makes around 140bhp and 174Nm while the 1.6-litre diesel motor is good for 118bhp and 300Nm. The petrol engine comes mated only to a 7-step CVT. The diesel variant, on the other hand, gets only a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Honda CR-V was launched in October 2018 at a starting price of Rs 30.65 lakh (for the diesel variant). The petrol CR-V employs a 2.0-litre NA four-cylinder engine good for 154bhp and 189Nm. The diesel variant, which is being discontinued, churns out 118bhp and 300Nm from its 1.6-litre mill (just like in the Honda Civic).
Honda Accord Hybrid Discontinued
Coming to the Honda Accord Hybrid, the saloon is quite outdated. Being a CBU product, it came with a ridiculous starting price of Rs 37 lakh ex-showroom. The 2.0-litre petrol motor is mated to a pair of electric motors to produce a combined output of 215bhp. Its direct rival, Toyota Camry Hybrid, continues to be the better pick especially in terms of pricing. In 2018 and 2019, not a single unit of Accord Hybrid was sold in India.
As mentioned before, Honda Car India will eventually introduce the diesel models in BS6 formats. There could be a slight change in output but it would be too difficult to tell the difference in real-world driving conditions. The Honda Accord Hybrid might come again with a complete revamp but from a sales perspective, it will be hard to impress with an unreasonable price tag.
